Family blames movie executive's suicide on Weinstein scandal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The family of movie executive Jill Messick says she has taken her own life. She was 50.

The family said in a statement Wednesday that Messick had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggled with depression for years. But they added that she also had been distraught from the recent spotlight on her after details emerged on alleged sexual misconduct by Harvey Weinstein.

Actress Rose McGowan says Weinstein raped her in 1997. She recently accused Messick, who was her manager at the time, of failing to support her fight against Weinstein before taking a job with him just a few months later.

Messick's family says McGowan reported the incident to her without calling it rape, and that Messick reported it to her bosses accordingly before she went to work under Weinstein at Miramax.

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Weinstein's lawyers used an email from Messick in his defense last month.

Messages left with representatives seeking comment from Weinstein and McGowan were not immediately returned.